Compare towns

Gorham vs Lancaster vs Upton vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureGorhamLancasterUptonWindham
People
Population
18,300
8,606
8,189Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41.8±1.8
7% above U.S.
Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6k
39% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26k
39% above U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355
19% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,232±$332
13% below U.S.
Lancaster and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$7,235
132% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 min
20% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #24 of 133 in ME #145 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #95 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Nashoba Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton RSU 14
High school in town Gorham High School None in town Blackstone Valley Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Highest
—
11.2Lowest
12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.